Predictors of progression in untreated keratoconus: a Save Sight Keratoconus Registry study

2021 ◽  
pp. bjophthalmol-2020-317547
Author(s):  
Alex Ferdi ◽  
Vuong Nguyen ◽  
Himal Kandel ◽  
Jeremy C K Tan ◽  
Francisco Arnalich-Montiel ◽  
...  

AimsWe set out to identify risk factors for progression in untreated keratoconus patients from 34 centres across Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Italy.MethodsPatients were divided into ‘progressors’ and ‘stable’ patients for each clinical parameter: visual acuity (VA), steepest keratometry (maximum keratometry (Max-K)) and thinnest corneal thickness (TCT). Primary outcomes were the proportion of eyes with sustained progression in VA, Max-K or TCT within 3 years. Secondary outcomes included predictors of progression.ResultsThere were 3994 untreated eyes from 2283 patients. The proportion of eyes with VA, Max-K and TCT progression at 1 year were 3.2%, 6.6% and 3.1% respectively. Factors associated with VA loss were higher baseline VA (HR 1.15 per logMAR line increase in VA; p<0.001) and steeper baseline Max-K (HR 1.07 per 1D increase; p<0.001). Younger baseline age was associated with Max-K steepening (HR 0.96 per year older; p=0.001). Thicker baseline TCT, steeper baseline Max-K and younger baseline age were associated with TCT thinning: (HR 1.08 per 10 µm increase in TCT; p<0.001), (HR 1.03 per 1D increase; p=0.02) and (HR 0.98 per year younger; p=0.01), respectively.ConclusionsSteeper Max-K and younger age were the most clinically useful baseline predictors of progression as they were associated with worsening of two clinical parameters. Every 1D steeper Max-K was associated with a 7% and 3% greater risk of worsening VA and thinning TCT, respectively. Each 1 year younger was associated with a 4% and 2% greater risk of steepening Max-K and thinning TCT, respectively.

2020 ◽  
pp. bmjmilitary-2020-001564
Author(s):  
Raina D Brooks ◽  
T Grier ◽  
B H Jones ◽  
M C Chervak

IntroductionFalls/near falls are the second leading cause of hospitalisation and outpatient visits among US Army soldiers. While numerous studies have evaluated fall-related or near fall-related injuries among elderly adults, few have evaluated this association among young adults. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics and risk factors associated with fall-related or near fall-related injuries among male US Army soldiers.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study of male US Army Airborne Division soldiers (n=5187). Electronic surveys captured demographic, lifestyle, physical training (PT), fitness and injury data during spring/summer of 2016. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors of fall-related or near fall-related injuries, adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsPrimary findings indicated that activities and risk factors associated with fall-related or near fall-related injuries among soldiers included younger age (≤35 years), holding a job that required minimal lifting activities, slower 2-mile run times and not running during personal PT.ConclusionsThe findings from this study suggest that male US Army soldiers and other physically active men may benefit from (1) obtaining and/or maintaining higher aerobic endurance and muscular strength, and (2) training focused on preventing fall-related injuries during PT, road marching and sports/recreational activities. Moreover, prevention strategies and education should further target younger soldiers (≤35 years old), as younger age is not modifiable.


Author(s):  
Preethi M. Iyer ◽  
Sanjay Kumar P. ◽  
Karthikeyan S. ◽  
P. K Krishnan Namboori

<p><strong>Objective: </strong>In the present pharmacogenomic work, the genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors associated with BRCA1 induced breast cancer, cancer proneness and its variants across different populations like Indian, Netherland, Belgium, Denmark, Austrian, New Zealand, Sweden, Malaysian and Norwegian and the ‘mutation and methylation-prone’ region of BRCA1 have been computed.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The global variations associated with the disease have been identified from the ‘Leiden open variation database (LOVD 3.0)’ and ‘Indian genome variation database (IGVDB)’. The variants, ‘single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)’ are then characterized. The epigenetic factors associated with breast cancer have been identified from the clinical reports and further scrutinized using EpiGRAPH tool. The various contributing environmental factors responsible for the variations have been considered.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All the variants across different populations such as Indian, Netherland, Belgium, Denmark, Austrian, New Zealand, Sweden, Malaysian and Norwegian are found to be in a specific transcript of BRCA1 that ranges within 41,196,312-41,277,500 (81,189 base pairs) of the chromosome 17. Two ‘single nucleotide variations (SNVs)’ (5266dupC: rs397507246 and 68_69delAG: rs386833395) have been identified as risk factors in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome in the global population and 39 SNPs have been identified as pathogenic and deleterious. ‘Evolutionary history’ seems to be the most significant attribute in the predictability of methylation of BRCA1. Unhealthy dietary habits, obesity, use of unsafe cosmetics, estrogen exposure, ‘hormone replacement therapy (HRT)’, use of oral contraceptives and smoking are the major environmental risk factors associated with breast cancer incidence.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This chromosome location (41,196,312-41,277,500 (81,189 base pairs)) can be considered as the population-specific sensitive region corresponding to BRCA1 mutation. This supports the fact that stabilization within the region can be a promising technique to control the epigenetic variants associated with the global position. The global variation in the proneness of the disease may be due to a cumulative effect of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors subject to further experimentations with identical variations and populations. </p>


Ruminants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-99
Author(s):  
Kimberly Capdevila-Ospina ◽  
Rene A. Corner-Thomas ◽  
Kate J. Flay ◽  
Paul R. Kenyon ◽  
Anne L. Ridler

Ewe deaths affect the productivity and profitability in sheep farming systems and have potential animal welfare and market perception implications. Internationally, there is scant data on the timing and causes of ewe deaths in extensive grazing systems. There is no published literature on the incidence and risk factors associated with casting (ewe in late gestation accidentally immobilised, often in dorsal recumbency). This study, undertaken using a cohort of 1789 ewes on a New Zealand farm, reports on the timing and risk factors associated with production parameters for ewe deaths through an almost two-year period, along with causes of death during both peripartum periods. Ewe deaths occurred throughout both years but were most frequent during the peripartum (pre-lambing to mid-lactation) period. Casting was the most commonly identified cause of death in both years, responsible for approximately a quarter to a third of potential annual mortality. Few risk factors for death or casting were identified. In conclusion, the peripartum period is a high-risk time period for ewe deaths (and, by extension, will also contribute to lamb perinatal mortality). In extensively grazed flocks where casting events occur, it is recommended that all ewes are monitored daily during the peripartum period.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amandeep Singh ◽  
Vijay Bodukam ◽  
Kirit Saigal ◽  
Jaya Bahl ◽  
Yvette Wang ◽  
...  

Purpose. By examining the prescribing patterns and inappropriate use of acid suppressive therapy (AST) during hospitalization and at discharge we sought to identify the risk factors associated with such practices.Methods. In this retrospective observational study, inpatient records were reviewed from January 2011 to December 2013. Treatment with AST was considered appropriate if the patient had a known specific indication or met criteria for stress ulcer prophylaxis.Results. In 2011, out of 58 patients who were on AST on admission, 32 were newly started on it and 23 (72%) were inappropriate cases. In 2012, out of 97 patients on AST, 61 were newly started on it and 51 (84%) were inappropriate cases. In 2013, 99 patients were on AST, of which 48 were newly started on it and 36 (75%) were inappropriate cases. 19% of the patients inappropriately started on AST were discharged on it in three years. Younger age, female sex, and 1 or more handoffs between services were significantly associated with increased risk of inappropriate AST.Conclusion. Our findings reflect inappropriate prescription of AST which leads to increase in costs of care and unnecessarily puts the patient at risk for potential adverse events. The results of this study emphasize the importance of examining the patient’s need for AST at each level of care especially when the identified risk factors are present.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Xiaoli Liu ◽  
Zheng Xiang ◽  
Chaoneng Liu ◽  
Xiangrong Shi ◽  
Xinfeng Yi ◽  
...  

Background. Physical fitness has been recognized not only as an integrated predictor of the body's functional status, but also as an important marker of health outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the factors associated with physical fitness among 3-6-year-old children within the Tujia-Nationality settlement in the years 2005, 2010, and 2014. Methods. Demographics questionnaires and fitness assessment were performed to identify the risk factors for poor physical fitness (PPF) among 3- to 6-year-old children in the years 2005, 2010, and 2014 in the area of southwest Hubei of China. Results. Of the 2128 children, 495 were classified as PPF (23.3%). In 2005, the percentage of PPF children was 21.7%, and the percentage of PPF children decreased from 29.1% in 2010 to 18.8% in 2014. Furthermore, Urban area children had a significant risk of PPF than rural area children (OR=1.299, P=0.031). Three-year-old children had 2.150-fold risk of PPF as compared to 6-year-old children. The children with less than 0.5 hours of activity time per day had 1.95-fold risk of PPF as compared to those with 1-2-hour activity time per day, respectively. Underweight and overweight/obese children had 2.74-fold and 1.67-fold risk of PPF as compared to normal weight children. Children had 1.97-fold risk of PPF when their father’s schooling ceased after middle school and 1.51-fold risk of PPF when their father’s schooling ceased after high school, respectively. Conclusions. These results demonstrated that the incidence of PPF children went up from 2005 to 2010 and then down from 2010 to 2014 within the Tujia settlement. For the children in this area, the risk factors associated with PPF included urban location, younger age, less than 1-hour activity time per day in kindergarten, underweight/overweight, low father’s education level, and mother’s childbearing age being less than 20 years.


2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 444-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Scuffham ◽  
Stephen J. Legg ◽  
Elwyn C. Firth ◽  
Mark A. Stevenson

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 529-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin V Ineichen ◽  
Marc P Schneider ◽  
Martin Hlavica ◽  
Niels Hagenbuch ◽  
Michael Linnebank ◽  
...  

Background: Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) is very common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and it might jeopardize renal function and thereby increase mortality. Although there are well-known urodynamic risk factors for upper urinary tract damage, no clinical prediction parameters are available. Objective: We aimed to assess clinical parameters potentially predicting urodynamic risk factors for upper urinary tract damage. Methods: A consecutive series of 141 patients with MS referred from neurologists for primary neuro-urological work-up including urodynamics were prospectively evaluated. Clinical parameters taken into account were age, sex, duration, and clinical course of MS and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Results: Multivariate modeling revealed EDSS as a clinical parameter significantly associated with urodynamic risk factors for upper urinary tract damage (odds ratio = 1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06–1.71, p = 0.02). Using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves, an EDSS of 5.0 as cutoff showed a sensitivity of 86%–87% and a specificity of 52% for at least one urodynamic risk factor for upper urinary tract damage. Conclusion: High EDSS is significantly associated with urodynamic risk factors for upper urinary tract damage and allows a risk-dependent stratification in daily neurological clinical practice to identify MS patients requiring further neuro-urological assessment and treatment.


2015 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 313-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.J. Froud ◽  
K.R. Everett ◽  
J.L. Tyson ◽  
R.M. Beresford ◽  
N. Cogger

Bacterial canker of kiwifruit commonly referred to as Psa is caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae and the biovar 3 strain has affected kiwifruit vines in New Zealand since 2010 Psa has had an impact on the management and production of kiwifruit in New Zealand This paper provides a review of the epidemiological risk factors that are associated with Psa disease within orchards The presence of the pathogen rain and a susceptible host are sufficient to cause disease in kiwifruit but there are other risk factors that can increase the amount of disease that develops and the spread of disease including other environmental factors (eg temperature) host factors (eg cultivar) and management factors (eg pruning practices) The aim of this literature review was to describe the current knowledge of a range of known and postulated risk factors for the development of bacterial canker in kiwifruit


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 1130
Author(s):  
Gobinaath . ◽  
Arun Daniel J.

Background: Febrile seizures occur commonly in the under 5 age group and is associated with few risk factors causing its recurrence like very high fever, family history of seizures, low sodium levels and younger age of onset which are subject to seasonal and wide geographical variations. This study aimed at detecting the major risk factors associated with recurrent febrile seizures in an Indian population.Methods: A retrospective hospital-based study was conducted among a total of 300 cases aged 6 months to 5 years attending to the paediatric OPD with history of fever followed by febrile seizures. Information regarding socio-demographic and clinical variables associated with febrile seizure was collected and analyzed.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 25.6±2.2 months and majority (60%) were males. Family history of seizures was present in 25.3% (n=76) of the children with febrile seizures. Respiratory infections (73.3%) and gastroenteritis (17%) were the major infective reasons associated with the occurrence of febrile seizures followed by pneumonia (6.3%) and urinary tract infections (5%). Recurrence of FS was significantly higher among the children with family history of FS (p=0.009), age at onset lesser (p<0.001) and simple FS seizures.Conclusions: Younger age at onset and positive family history of seizures were important socio-demographic risk factors associated with recurrent febrile seizures.


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